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Tamper

noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A person or thing that tamps.; A tool used to tamp something down, such as tobacco in a pipe.
  2. 2
    a tool for tamping (e.g., for tamping tobacco into a pipe bowl or a charge into a drill hole etc.) wordnet
  3. 3
    A person or thing that tamps.; A railway vehicle used to tamp down ballast.
  4. 4
    A person or thing that tamps.; An envelope of neutron-reflecting material in a nuclear weapon, used to delay the expansion of the reacting material and thus produce a longer-lasting and more energetic explosion.
Verb
  1. 1
    To make unauthorized or improper alterations, sometimes causing deliberate damage; to meddle (with something). intransitive

    "tamper detection"

  2. 2
    play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly wordnet
  3. 3
    To try to influence someone, usually in an illegal or devious way; to try to deal (with someone). intransitive

    "Prosecutors argued that he would tamper with witnesses if bail was granted."

  4. 4
    intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly wordnet
  5. 5
    To meddle (with something) in order to corrupt or pervert it. dated

    "[…] No Art used to inflame him, no Coquetry practised to tempt or intice him, and no Prudery or Affectation to tamper with his Passions; but, on the contrary, artless and unpractised in the Wiles of the World, all her Endeavours, and even all her Wishes, tended only to render herself as un-amiable as she could in his Eyes:"

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  1. 6
    To involve oneself (in a plot, scheme, etc.). obsolete

    "1716, Joseph Addison, The Free-holder, No. 31, 6 April, 1716, London: D. Midwinter and J. Tonson, p. 180, […] he was beheaded upon the Defeat of the Conspiracy for having but thus far tampered in it."

  2. 7
    To attempt to practise or administer something (especially medicine) without sufficient knowledge or qualifications. obsolete

    "Certainly it is a scurvy strong troublesom purge, therefore ill to be tamperd with by the unskilful […]"

  3. 8
    To discuss future contracts with a player, against league rules. Canada, US

Etymology

Etymology 1

From tamp + -er.

Etymology 2

From Middle French temprer (“to temper, mix, meddle”). Doublet of temper.

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